miss the parties and balls this week though. You and my brother
are going to be the chief topics of conversation at every affair in
Town. Today in the park Hugo and I were stopped again and
again. Everyone wanted to know about the dreadful events in the
Zamarian museum."
Horatia chuckled." I suspect that is the principal reason
Colchester has insisted that Imogen cannot accept any invitations
for a fortnight. He has no interest in satisfying the curiosity of the
ton."
You are absolutely correct, Horatia," Matthias said from the
doorway of the library." I have better things to do than make polite
conversation about a matter that has so deeply affected my
nerves."
Ah, there you are, Colchester." Imogen smiled at him." We have
been waiting for you. Did your friend Felix have the information
you sought?"
He did." Matthias crossed the room and leaned down to give
her a quick, possessive kiss on the mouth.
What information?" Patricia demanded.
Imogen glanced at her." Why, the answer to the question of what
happened in the north, of course. Mister Drake and his sister refuse
to confess to anything, you know. They have guessed, correctly,
that Lucy never actually wrote down the dark secret she uncovered."
But with the information that Imogen and I had plus what
Felix Glaston had discovered, I have finally managed to put the
whole story together." Matthias sat down on the sofa next to
Imogen and glanced at Horatia." You will no doubt find this rather
interesting."
Why is that?" Horatia asked.
Remember the lurid tale of the infamous Demon Twins of
Dunstoke Castle?"
Of course." Horatia's eyes widened." Never say that Mister Drake
and Lady Lyndhurst are the evil twins."
That is precisely the case," Matthias said.
Patricia frowned in confusion." But they aren't twins."
Not all twins are identical," Imogen reminded her as she
reached for the teapot to pour a cup for Matthias.
Just so." Matthias frowned." Here, let me do that. You are not to
exert yourself yet." He took the pot from Imogen's hand." Selena
and Drake escaped the fire they set to kill old Lord Dunstoke, just
as the rumors claimed. What is more, they got out with Dunstoke's
hoard of gems and jewels. They have been living off the profits for
the past three years."
Imogen's imagination leaped to fill in the missing parts." They
assumed new identities and moved to London. They had the
money to keep up appearances and the acting skill to play the
parts they had chosen. No one thought to question them."
Matthias agreed as he poured his own tea and sat back." But
when they reached London they learned that everyone in Society
was talking about the Demon Twins. An unknown brother and
sister appearing on the scene would have been suspect. So, as an
added measure of caution, they decided to keep their relationship
a secret."
And then had to go on maintaining the secret after the gossip
had died down," Horatia murmured." They could hardly announce
that they were brother and sister after letting people think other
wise for several months."
Exactly," Matthias said." But then Drake began the affair with
Lucy. At some point he made the slip of the tongue that made her
suspicious. Probably said something about the theater or about
his own acting talent. Whatever it was, it was enough to make her
hire a runner, who, in turn, must have learned something of inter
est."
Imogen grew thoughtful." And three years later Lord Vanneck
found Lucy's journal. He did not learn the precise nature of the
secret, but he realized that there was a secret of some sort. It was
enough. He needed money, so he decided to try blackmailing
Alastair."
He convinced Drake that he knew what Lucy had known, and
in the process he signed his own death warrant," Matthias
concluded." The Polite World was everything to Drake and his
sister. They were willing to kill to protect the positions they had
created for themselves."
Patricia shuddered." Will they hang, do you think?"
Transported to Australia, most likely," Matthias said." It's the
usual fate for that sort, now that we can no longer ship convicts to
America."
Imogen grimaced." Something tells me Selena and Alastair will
do very well in the colonies."
She was standing in a black-draped bedchamber this time.
Somehow she knew that it was nearly midnight. The windows were
open. Cold night air caused the candles to flicker. There was no sign
of Matthias. She turned slowly, calling his name. There was no
answer.
She was suddenly seized by a sense of panic. She had to find
Matthias. She hurried out of the bedchamber and ran through
Uncle Selwyn's funereal house. Desperation and dread consumed
her. If she did not find him, they would both be lost forever in this
dreadful mausoleum . .
She searched every dark room in the mansion until only the
library remained. She looked at the closed door, afraid to open it. If
Matthias was not inside, she would never find him. They would
both be alone forever.
Slowly she reached out her hand to twist the knob .
Good morning, my dear," Matthias said.
The fragments of the dream dissolved in a heartbeat. Imogen
opened her eyes and saw Matthias standing at the foot of the bed.
He had a small, ornately carved chest tucked under one arm and
a copy of the Zamarian Review in his hand.
Sorry to awaken you," he said." But I thought you'd like to
know that the newest edition of the Review has just arrived. You
will never guess what that arrogant, presumptuous, overbearing
I. A. Stone has dared to write this time."
Imogen yawned and sat up against the pillows. She examined
Matthias surreptitiously. He looked very solid and quite real. He
was dressed in his shirt-sleeves and breeches. Sunlight gleamed on
the icy silver in his hair. His eyes were the clear gray of an early
dawn.
She suddenly realized that there was a great deal of light pour
ing through the window." Good heavens, what time is it?"
Not quite ten o'clock." Matthias looked amused.
That is impossible. I never sleep late." She glowered at the
clock on the dresser and saw that it was, indeed, five minutes until
ten o'clock." It's your fault. You kept me up until all hours last
night, sir."
He gave her a devilish grin." Your insistence upon practicing
half the positions illustrated in my Zamarian marriage instruction
scroll inspired me, my sweet,"
Imogen blushed at the memory of his passion and her own." Not
half. Merely a select few that appeared especially interesting."
All of those positions that featured the lady on top, as I recall."
Matthias's grin widened." But never fear, my dear. You know how
it heats my blood when you take command." He walked around
the bed and handed her the Zama
rian Review.
You woke me up to show me my own article?" she asked,
beginning to take an interest. She opened the Review.
Well, no, actually. That was not why I awakened you."
Oh, look, Matthias, the editors printed my article ahead of
yours."
Yes, I know," he said." But as to why I woke you, Imogen"
This is the first time that they have actually printed one of my
articles in front of yours," she said with gathering enthusiasm.
Perhaps they have finally come to the conclusion that my obser
vations are as well reasoned and as interesting as your own, my
lord."
I intend to speak to them about the matter. They seem to have
forgotten that I founded that damn journal." Matthias sat down on
the edge of the bed." But first there is something I wish to give to
you, my dear."
One moment, sir. Let me see if there are any letters concern
ing my last article on the relationship of Zamaris and Anizamara
in Zamarian mythology.
I have something for you, Imogen."
Ah-ha. Here is a letter from that idiot Bledlow. I knew he
would try to dispute my arguments." Imogen paused." What did
you say?"
He smiled faintly." I have a gift for you."
How lovely." She sensed that he was trying to tell her some
thing very important." Is it in that chest?"
Yes." He put the carved box into her hands.
Slowly she opened the lid and peered inside.
Nestled against black velvet was a magnificent object about the
size of her hand. It was fashioned of gold, heavily inscribed on one
side in the formal script of ancient Zamar. The other side was
crusted with gems and crystals of singular beauty. They glowed
with such brilliant clarity that Imogen could scarcely believe that
they were real.
The Queen's Seal," she breathed.
You are looking at the artifact that caused Rutledge to attempt
to murder me."
She searched his eyes." You have had it all this time? You kept
it hidden away and allowed the legends to grow?"
He lifted one shoulder in a small shrug." Yes. I suppose it represented a ghost."
Why have you given it to me?"
He touched her cheek with his elegant fingers." Because you
saved me from the ghosts. You are my Anizamara."
Oh, Matthias. I do love you so." Imogen tossed the priceless
seal aside and reached for him.
I am glad to hear that." Matthias managed to grab the seal just
before it tumbled off the bed and fell to the floor. He set it down
very carefully on the nightstand." Because I love you too. I will
love you for the rest of my life and beyond."
Is that a promise, my lord?"
Yes. The most important one that I have ever made."
Imogen wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him
down on top of her with joyous enthusiasm. The whole world
knew that Colchester always kept his promises.
Amanda Quick - Mischief.txt Page 38
